Southampton · London and the South East
Eling Pre-Purchase Roof Survey
A roof survey before you buy a house or flat in Eling, carried out by an experienced roof surveyor. You get a clear written report with photographs.
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
- Cracked flaunching or crumbling chimney pointing
Pre-purchase roof surveys for homes and businesses in Eling
A RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey covers the whole building, and the roof is only one part of it. We do not offer a RICS home survey, and ours isn’t a substitute for one. It adds a focused look at the roof on its own, with photos and written recommendations you can act on. The two sit side by side if you want the fullest picture. Common reasons to book are sagging ridge lines or uneven roof slopes and gaps where slates or tiles have come loose, across natural slate, lead flashings and valleys and gutters and downpipes.
Bungalows, chalet bungalows and older cottages are common in smaller places like Eling, many of them extended or given dormers over the years. Low roofs are easier to see from ground level, but dormer cheeks, valleys and flat-roofed additions still need close attention. That applies whether you’re buying in Eling or checking a new roof there. Snags and wear both tend to show at dormer lead work and along flat-roof edges.
Where we can’t see part of the roof, the report says so. That way, it is clear what was covered and what wasn’t, and what we’d suggest next.
- Place
- Eling (SO40, SO15)
- Region
- Southampton
- Price
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- Appointments
- Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Insurance
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
Pre-purchase roof surveys around Eling
Eling lies within about 1 mile of the sea, where wind off the sea can be strong. A small drone can’t fly safely in strong wind or a downpour, so the weather on the day decides whether a flight goes ahead. About 3.6 miles east lies Southampton Tudor House and Garden, a reminder of how long the area around Eling has been built on. If your house is among the older ones, expect a mix of original materials and later repairs on the roof.
Landlords with a home close to Totton station may find that a roof report gives you a clear picture before you buy or settle up with a roofer.
Eling is about 1 mile south-east of Totton, in Southampton. We carry out pre-purchase roof surveys for householders, landlords and businesses in Eling. We cover towns and villages across Southampton.
We survey roofs across SO40 and SO15 for pre-purchase roof surveys and the streets around it. We offer pre-purchase roof surveys to properties on Bury Lane, Rose Road and Mill Road and the roads around them. Eling is on the A35, so it’s easy for us to get to. We also cover Redbridge (1 mile north-east), Millbrook (2 miles east), Hillyfields (2 miles north-east), Maybush (2 miles north-east) and Regents Park (2 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Southampton (4 miles east), Townhill Park (6 miles east), Midanbury (5 miles east), Thornhill (6 miles east), Chartwell Green (6 miles east) and Harefield (6 miles east).
What’s near Eling
We work in homes and buildings around The Anchor pub and Hounsdown School, among other places. There’s a railway station in Eling itself: Totton station. A little further out are Eling Experience (0.6 miles north) and Westquay (3.5 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Testwood Lakes.
What affects the price in Eling
We confirm the price for your survey before booking. These are the things that affect it:
- Any need for thermal images or a drone flight
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- The package you choose: Basic, Standard or Premium
- The type of building, from a house to a block or an office
To find out what your survey will cost, phone 07833 053749 or email us and tell us about the roof. We’ll confirm the figure before booking.
Getting in touch
A little information up front helps. It’s useful to include:
- Where any leaks, stains or damp patches show inside
- Access details, such as a loft hatch or a shared roof
- Dates you are working to, such as exchange
- Where the property is, with the postcode
Photos help, if you have them. Take them safely from the ground or a window. To send them or to book, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email.
What we do, step by step
We look at the roof from outside and, where it’s relevant and there’s safe access, from inside the loft space too. Inside, we look for staining, damp, gaps and signs of movement, as far as the space allows. All in, the survey typically takes an hour or two at a typical home, and about three to four hours for a commercial roof. Some parts of a survey depend on the weather, so a visit to Eling is booked with the forecast in mind: the parts that need calm, dry weather are planned around it.
- After your offer is agreed, you book and share your timetable.
- Access to the house and the roof space is agreed ahead of time.
- The visit begins outside, from ground level and any safe vantage points.
- We then look from upstairs windows and inside the loft where it’s safe.
- You get a written report with photographs and recommendations before you exchange.
How to prepare
- Leave side gates unlocked
- For flats, check roof access has been agreed
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
Booking a survey
We survey roofs seven days a week. To arrange a day that suits you, call 07833 053749 or drop us an email with the address and the days you’d prefer.
Advice
Common roof problems in Eling
Most viewings never get near the roof. You walk round the rooms, but the roof stays out of sight. Fresh decoration can also cover the marks an old leak left behind, which is why buyers book a closer look before committing.
Typical things we’re asked to look at include:
- Slipped or missing slates and tiles
- Chimney mortar that has eroded
- Flashings that have lifted or split
- Bitumen or mortar used in place of proper repairs
The streets around a church such as Church of St Mary are frequently among the oldest in a place, and if your house is among the older ones nearby, the roof may have had decades of patch repairs, and the survey shows where they are.
What to check before booking
- When you’ll get the report
- Whether the price includes VAT
- What’s outside the scope of the survey
- Their track record with similar roofs
Honest limits
No survey can tell you everything, and we’d rather be clear about that before you book. Keep these in mind:
- Structural calculations (that’s a structural engineer’s job)
- Whether the price should change, which is between you and the seller
- The condition of the rest of the house (that is a RICS home survey)
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll tell you before booking. What our survey covers.
Roofs we survey in Eling
- Gutters and downpipes
- Flat-roofed extensions and dormers
- Lead flashings and valleys
- Chimney stacks
- The roof space
- Natural slate
- Clay and concrete tiles
Your questions about pre-purchase roof surveys in Eling
Do roofs near the sea, like those around Eling, take more of a battering?
Places near the sea get more wind and more salt in the air than inland, and both are hard on roofs. Salt corrodes metal fixings and flashings, and wind lifts loose slates, tiles and ridge pieces.
How do I find out if my home in Eling is listed?
Your council is the best source, with Historic England’s list for listed buildings. A change of roofing material may need consent in either case, and councils can also use Article 4 directions.
How quickly will I get the report?
The Premium Survey has a same-day report, Standard 24 to 48 hours and Basic within 48 hours. Reports are emailed with photos included.
Do you carry out surveys on Saturdays and Sundays?
Surveys can be booked for any day of the week: Monday to Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. Just tell us the days that suit you.
Do you cover Eling?
Yes. We survey roofs in Eling and the rest of Southampton. To book, phone 07833 053749 or use the contact form.
Is your roof survey a RICS survey?
No. Our survey looks at the roof only, and it is not a RICS home survey. It works alongside a home survey.
Can I use the report to negotiate on price?
Yes, you can. The report sets out what we found, with photos, so you can raise them with the seller or their agent. How the seller responds is up to them.
Useful tips for Eling property owners
Most of what helps is simple and safe from the ground. Our suggestions:
- Find out whether the roof has been replaced or patched
- Don’t leave it until just before exchange
- Ask for loft access on the day
- Look for fresh paint on upstairs ceilings at viewings
If the report shows work is needed, you can raise it with the seller or agent. Some buyers ask for repairs before completion, others ask for a change to the price. The outcome is between you and the seller.
After you move in, have leaves and moss cleared from gutters and valleys, ideally once the leaves have dropped. Overflowing water is behind a lot of damp. Get a professional in rather than climbing up yourself.
Checking the roof from the ground
What you can’t do safely is get up close. Roofs are fragile and slippery, and falls from height are serious. That part is for a survey, using safe viewpoints and a drone where it applies.
Fresh stains on ceilings or walls after rain are worth noting. Take a photo and write down when you saw it.